Open AccessThe oscillation of the perturbation potential energy between the extratropics and tropics in boreal winter
Author(s) -
Wang Lei,
Li Jianping,
Wang Zhanggui,
Li Yanjie,
Zheng Fei
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
atmospheric science letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 1530-261X
DOI - 10.1002/asl2.532
Subject(s) - tropics , climatology , subtropics , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , boreal , teleconnection , hadley cell , perturbation (astronomy) , southern hemisphere , southern oscillation , oscillation (cell signaling) , walker circulation , el niño southern oscillation , jet stream , atmospheric circulation , general circulation model , climate change , geology , oceanography , ecology , physics , jet (fluid) , biology , genetics , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
Correlation analyses reveal that the perturbation potential energy (PPE) in the extratropics and tropics in boreal winters undergoes out‐of‐phase oscillations (PPE1 extratropics–tropics oscillation, PETO ). PETO is closely related to both El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and kinetic energy, furthermore, PETO tends to dominate over the extratropics while ENSO is more important over the tropics. In the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere, positive PETO phases tend to strengthen (weaken) Hadley circulation and to weaken (strengthen) an expanded Ferrel circulation, resulting in equatorward shift of the subtropical jet streams. In addition, precipitation is enhanced in regions of ascending vertical motion, and warmer temperatures are observed in the tropics except over the western Pacific.